Chapter 1: Objectives

Following are the main learning objectives from the chapter. To help you coordinate your studies, these objectives are organized into sub-sections (1-1, 1-2, etc.) and listed with the relevant page numbers from the textbook. 

1-1  (pgs. 3-5).
Understand that critical thinking is a way to avoid the errors of human thinking.

• Understand the difference between reasoned and unreasoned opinions.
  

1-2 (pgs. 5-6).
Understand the role that claims play in critical thinking.

• Identify whether a sentence has a truth value.
• Understand that critical thinking directs itself to assessing the likely truth or falsity of a claim.
• Be familiar with the basic criteria used to decide whether or not to accept, reject, or suspend judgment on a claim.
  

1-3 (pgs. 6-11).
Understand that critical thinking is often the study of arguments about issues.

•  Be able to identify the issue at stake in an argument.
• Avoid common mistakes in identifying issues.
• Use arguments to settle issues.
  

1-4 (pgs. 12-18).
Understand the difference between issues which are matters of fact and matters of opinion.

• Be able to distinguish facts from opinions.
• Realize that opinions may be either true or false.
• Differentiate between matters of opinion and matters of pure opinion.
• Identify claims as either objective claims or subjective claims.
• Understand why the claim, "people are entitled to their opinions" is problematic.